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Guide to Funding and Participation in European Union Programs
for Non-Governmental Organisations in Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States Prepared by the Open Society Institute-Brussels
Like any large bureaucracy, the European Commission can often appear daunting and inaccessible. It has been known to inspire fear and loathing among some, awe and admiration among others. Having said this, it is an institution that is going to play an increasingly significant role in many of the countries of the Soros Foundations Network, especially in the ten candidate countries for accession to the European Union (EU). But the Commission's policies and activities are also significant in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the Newly Independent States (NIS) and Mongolia. With this guide we have tried to give an overview of the relevant programs and institutions of the EU. Although applying for EU funding may not be recommended for the faint-hearted, efforts are underway within the European Commission to make the process less painful. At the time of writing, members of both the European Commission and the European Parliament are about to change. This change in Commissioners and Parliamentarians will no doubt have consequences on programs and funding. OSI-Brussels will be following the developments within the European Commission and keep you updated. We will also continue to keep you informed of the changes in programs and deadlines as they appear. A copy of this guide will be available from August 1999 onwards on the OSI-Budapest website: http://www.osi.hu We plan to update this guide regularly. Any comments, enquiries or suggestions should be sent to: Open Society
Institute-Brussels Tel: +32 2 505 46
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Section 1 CEE Central and Eastern European CoE Council of Europe COREPER Committee of Permanent Representatives DG Directorate General EC European Commission EEA European Economic Area EP European Parliament EU European Union EURO European Union single currency unit ISPA Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession NPAA National Program for the Adoption of the Acquis NIS Newly Independent States Phare Poland, Hungary: assistance for economic reconstruction RTD Research and Technological Development SAPARD Special Accession Program for Agriculture and Rural Development SCR Joint External Relations Service SME Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Tacis Technical assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States
This guide is intended for use by the Soros national foundations, network programs and their grantees. The guide provides an overview of EU programs that are open to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and NIS. The guide also includes programs that, although not open to CEE and NIS yet, will soon be available for the ten candidate countries for accession. In some instances, NGOs based in the candidate countries are now eligible to participate as partners in programs and this has been signalled where applicable. Also included are programs that, while not open to NGOs, are nonetheless worth noting. Although most EU funding to CEE and NIS is channelled through national governments, various programs exist that provide direct financial support to NGOs (including institutes of higher education). Given the limited amount of resources of these programs and the ‘well-funded’ image of the Soros Foundations, it is unrealistic to think that the Soros Foundations themselves can apply for considerable levels of EU funding. However, collaboration is possible either by informing grantees about EU programs that provide funding for NGOs or by the co-financing of our grantees with the European Commission through the programs mentioned in the following pages. This past year has seen a move from centralised control over management and implementation of programs in Brussels to more responsibility for the local delegations of the European Commission. This shift in responsibility means that the delegations will be more involved in funding decisions. Therefore, potential applicants (if they have not already done so) are encouraged to establish contacts with the European Commission delegation in their country. In order for OSI-Brussels to be of optimum assistance to you in your dealings with the European Commission, we strongly urge you to consult with us prior to submitting proposals to either the Commission or its delegations. Since we have frequent contacts with representatives of the European Commission in Brussels, it is important that OSI-Brussels is completely up to date concerning requests for funding. In preparing this guide, it quickly became apparent that one has to be extremely vigilant in following the publications of the Official Journal of the European Communities and the relevant websites for calls for proposals. Often, a call for proposal is published only a couple of months before the deadline. The reader will note that many of the deadlines for 1999 have already expired. OSI-Brussels has, however, been sending out email notices to the Soros Foundations Network program coordinators, informing them of upcoming deadlines and will continue to do so. Finally, this guide owes much to the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) guide The Way through the Labyrinth (Charity Aid Foundation, 1998). We would like to thank ECAS for allowing us to reproduce some of the information. Before submitting an application for one of the programs described in this guide, you might want to consider the following questions.
The following pages describe EU programs that are either currently open to NGOs from CEE and NIS, or will be in the near future. Each description begins with the title of the program, and where available, the budget line number and the budget amount. The aims or goals of each program are summarised in the section on objectives. The section concerning eligibility states what kinds of organisations are entitled to apply and under which conditions. The section called geographical area specifies which countries are entitled to participate in the programs. For the purpose of this guide, the geographical areas are:
The section contact address includes the contact information for both the individual and/or the unit within the directorate general (DG) that administers the program and the budget. Where applicable, it also mentions the individual and/or the unit within the European Commission's Joint External Relations Service (SCR) that is responsible for implementation. The SCR, created in 1998, manages all technical aspects of the Commission's aid to non-member countries including the preparation and signing of contracts, financial transfers, interim and final reporting, audits, and evaluations. In practical terms, this means that NGOs will be in contact with the relevant DG concerning the program guidelines, content and application process. Once a project has been selected for funding, the signing of the contract, payments, extensions and reports will be handled by SCR.
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
LIEN was designed to assist in the development of NGOs working with disadvantaged groups, while Partnership aimed at developing initiatives encouraging local economic development and institutional strengthening. Geographical Area
Contact Address Ariane Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Action 1.1: assistance for translation of works of 20th century literature – to qualify, works must already have been translated and published in two EU languages (in addition to the original language). Action 1.2: grants for the translation of plays with a view to wider dissemination through public performance – to qualify works must have already been performed on stage or broadcast in audio-visual media, and have already received some critical and popular acclaim. Action 2: support for cooperation projects and partnership initiatives with a view to promoting citizens access to books and reading – to qualify the project must involve partners from at least three EU member states. Action 3: further training of professionals with a view to improving mutual knowledge and a better circulation of European literature – to qualify the organisers must provide a guarantee that the selection criteria for grant recipients will be clear and objective. Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address Bistro (Tacis) Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
The priority areas include enterprise support and financial services, human resources (education and training, public administration), social protection, food production, processing and distribution, agriculture, energy, transport, telecommunications and environment. The projects may involve:
conferences and seminars, to bring together people with particular expertise and knowledge; written expertise (studies, reports); small pilot projects.
Eligibility
Bistro does not provide complementary funding for projects already financed through the main Tacis program. Application forms and guidelines are available from the EC delegations mentioned below. Geographical Area
Contact Address
Consensus II (PHARE) Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
The program’s immediate objectives were to help design an inter-institutional social protection reform policy, to assist in preparing adequate strategies and tools for its implementation, and to exchange experience on a multi-country basis through concrete cooperation between CEE countries and between CEE countries and EU member states. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Applications
Contact Address Daphne Initiative (Measures for combating violence against children, young persons and women) Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
running pilot projects of an innovative nature in support of these aims; supporting awareness-raising measures and training against violence; assisting training and exchanges; carring out studies and research; disseminating information and ‘best practices’ through conferences, seminars, publications and publicity campaigns; assisting victims of violence to recover and reintegrate into their families and into society and the workplace. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadlines for Funding
Contact Name
Contact Address Support for Democracy for Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Including the Republics Formerly Part of Yugoslavia Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
More specifically, the program aims to support:
the peace process, efforts to appease tensions and develop democracy, including the promotion of free and independent media in the republics of former Yugoslavia; interethnic dialogue; organisations involved in re-establishing democracy in civil society (including regional NGOs, trade unions and women’s organisations); equal participation of women in decision-making processes; vulnerable groups. Eligibility
Although the program is open to smaller NGOs, there has been a tendency within the Commission to fund mainly large-scale projects by Western European NGOs with a significant track record. The minimum size of most grants is EUR 500,000. There will, however, be a limited number of small (EUR 50,000-150,000) and medium-sized grants (EUR 150,000-500,000). There is also a facility within this budget line for micro-projects, which provides grants up to EUR 50,000. This facility is managed by the delegations of the European Commission in the countries concerned. The closing dates for applications vary from country to country. To obtain further information on the micro-project facility, please contact the delegation of the European Commission in your country.
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address
Support for Democracy in the Newly Independent States and Mongolia Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
More specifically, the program will support:
the establishment of the infrastructure necessary for public and democratic life, with the widest participation of NGOs; awareness-raising measures with a view to strengthening civil society, including through civic education and the independent media. Eligibility
Although the program is open to smaller NGOs, there has been a tendency within the Commission to fund mainly large-scale projects by Western European NGOs with a significant track record. The minimum size of most grants is EUR 500,000. There will, however, be a limited number of small (EUR 50,000-150,000) and medium-sized grants (EUR 150,000-500,000). For micro-projects (up to EUR 50,000), NGOs should address the delegation of the European Commission in their country for deadlines and information. Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address
Ecos-Ouverture (Phare and Tacis) Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
encourage decentralisation and the development of local and regional initiatives by helping improve competencies at regional and local level; strengthen the capacity and working methods of local and regional authorities and actors in CEE, NIS, non-EU Mediterranean countries and EU regions in the field of economic and social development; promote concrete pilot regional and local development actions in a region or in neighbouring regions to serve as models of good practice for other regions; enhance and strengthen pre-accession strategies of regional and local authorities in CEE by familiarising them with EU policy, in particular in relation to the structural funds. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Contact Address European Training Foundation Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Geographical Area
Special Remarks
Contact Address European Voluntary Service Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
creation of a drop-in centre for the homeless or a catering facility for the destitute or a youth centre; development of a multi-purpose youth centre which offers different kinds of activities in the cultural and recreation field, computer training, or career advice; urban renovation or restoration of rural habitats; intercultural activities to promote integration and fight against racism. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Contact Address
Fifth Framework Program (Research, Technological Development and Demonstration) Budget Line Number Budget Amount B6-600 EUR 14.96 billion (1998-2002) Objectives
First Activity
control of infectious diseases the ‘cell factory’ environment and health sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry and integrated development of rural areas including mountains
new methods of work and electronic commerce multimedia content and tools essential technologies and infrastructures
global change, climate and biodiversity sustainable marine ecosystems the city of tomorrow and cultural heritage cleaner energy systems, including renewables economic and efficient energy for a competitive Europe controlled thermonuclear fusion nuclear fission
Confirming the international role of European Community research.
Third Activity Promotion of innovation and encouragement of participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Fourth Activity Improving human research potential and socio-economic knowledge base. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine may participate on a project-by-project self-financing basis. Different rules apply for the second activity of the program ‘Confirming the international role of Community research’. Please check the website for the specifics. Contact Address
Grants to Certain Activities of Human Rights Organisations Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
training of people responsible for enforcing human rights (judges, lawyers, civil servants, those responsible for the training of police and security forces, teachers); children’s rights; promotion and protection of women’s rights, including measures to combat the trafficking of women; rights of minorities such as Roma; rights of indigenous people world-wide; support for organisations specialised in the defence of human rights; human rights education and training; an European human rights and democratisation network to guarantee the collection, analysis, updating and dissemination of information concerning the EU’s human rights policies. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Contact Address
Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address Kaleidoscope Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
The program consists of two actions under which applications can be submitted: Action 1: Support for events and cultural projects carried out in partnership or through networks or by partnerships of organisations from at least three EU member states, and which also involve participants from at least three EU member states. Projects should either involve creative work intended for public display or dissemination in Europe or help to promote greater cultural exchanges and access to culture of the public. This program covers the performing arts, visual or spatial arts, the applied arts, and multimedia as a form of artistic expression. Action 2: Large-scale European cooperation actions. These projects are open to the same type of cultural and artistic projects and under the same conditions as Action 1. They must, however, be jointly organised by cultural networks or cultural co-organisers from at least four EU member states and must involve participants from at least four EU member states. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Applications
Contact Address Leonardo da Vinci Program Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Geographical Area
How to Submit an Application
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address
Contact Address
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Geographical Area
Contact Address
Measures to Achieve Equality Between Men and Women Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address Odysseus Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address OISIN Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address
Program of Community Action on the Prevention of AIDS and Certain Other Communicable Diseases Budget Line Number Budget Amount B3-4303 MEUR 10.5 Objective
Combating transmission; Information, education and training; Support for persons with HIV/AIDS and combating discrimination. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address
Raphael (Community Action Program in the Field of Cultural Heritage) Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
The program covers three actions: Action 1: conservation, safeguarding and enhancement of the movable cultural heritage through European cooperation. Action 2: cooperation for the exchange of experiences and the development of techniques applied to the heritage. Action 3: public access to, participation in and awareness of the immovable cultural heritage. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address Royaumont Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
The following are the programs priorities:
fostering parliamentary democracy and cooperation among national parliaments; fostering social dialogue and cooperation among trade unions; facilitating cooperation among public administrations in the fight against corruption; developing best practices in the spheres of law, human rights and equal opportunities for men and women; fostering and strengthening democracy and society and active cooperation in the spheres of justice and home affairs; promote freedom of the press; fostering inter-ethnic dialogue. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Contact Address Socrates Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
school education (Comenius) – which contains an action for Roma children; promotion of language learning (Lingua); promotion of open and distance learning (ODL); adult education; exchange of information and experience on education systems and policies. Eligibility
Geographical Area
How to Submit an Application
Contact Address STOP Important Remark
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
Eligibility
Geographical Area
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address TEMPUS III Important Remark
Objectives
the development of training providing qualifications that may be used in the period of economic reform, particularly by improving and increasing links with industry.
Eligibility
Geographical Area
Tempus funds may only be used for activities between EU member states and the above-mentioned partner countries. Contact Address
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
The main goals of Tempus are:
issues of curriculum development and overhaul in priority areas; development of skill-related training to address specific higher and advanced level skill shortages during economic reform, in particular through improved and extended links with industry. Eligibility
Geographical Area
Tempus funds may only be used for activities between EU member states and the partner countries. Contact Address
Budget Line Number Budget Amount
Objectives
The program covers the following actions:
Youth workers Cooperation between EU member states’ structures Exchanges with third countries Information for young people and youth research Eligibility
Geographical Area
The following third countries may co-operate with EU member states in Action D: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. How to Submit an Application
centralised actions – these should be addressed directly to the Commission, with a copy sent to the Youth for Europe National Agency for their information.
Deadline for Funding
Contact Address
Accession Countries The ten countries from Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic region which have applied for membership to the European Union. These countries are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, plus Cyprus, Malta and Turkey. Accession Partnership Document that sets out in a single framework the priority areas for further work identified in the Commission’s Opinion on the relevant accession country; the financial means available to help the relevant accession country implement these priorities; and the conditions that will apply to that assistance. The document has been decided by the European Commission in consultation with the government of the relevant accession country and on the basis of the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives, and conditions that have been decided by the Council. Approved by the Commission in March 1998. The Accession Partnerships will be revised on a yearly basis, beginning at the end of 1999. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/enlarge/access_partnership/) Acquis Communautaire Approximately 20,000 laws and regulations that have been developed over the years by the EU member states. The full acceptance of the rights and obligations by the candidate countries is an important aspect of the accession process. Agenda 2000 The document which contains the European Commission’s recommendations for the Union’s financial framework for the years 2000-2006; the future development of the Union’s policies; and the strategy for enlargement of the Union. Submitted to the Council and European Parliament on 15 July 1997. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/agenda2000/en/agenda.htm) Applicant Countries See Accession Countries. Copenhagen Criteria In June 1993, the European Union’s Heads of State and Government met in Copenhagen for the European Council and agreed on set of political criteria that must be met by countries posing their candidature for EU membership. These criteria are:
Council of Europe (CoE) The Council of Europe is an international organisation based in Strasbourg, France. Comprising forty member states, its main role is to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law throughout its membership. Its most important instrument is the adoption of conventions, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998, a permanent European Court of Human Rights was established to enforce the European Convention on Human Rights. Council of the European Union The Council of the European Union (Council) is the organ that represents the 15 EU member states. It performs the role of legislative chamber and also has executive powers. The Council is comprised of one representative at ministerial level from each member state. Council members are politically accountable to their national parliaments. Each of the members acts as President for a period of six months. The Council exerts legislative and decision-making powers. It is also the forum in which the representatives of the governments of the EU member states can declare their interests and try to reach compromises. The Council ensures general coordination of the activities of the European Union, in particular the establishment of an internal market. The Council is also responsible for intergovernmental cooperation, in common foreign and security policy and in the areas of justice and home affairs, including matters such as immigration and asylum, combating terrorism and drugs and judicial cooperation. Each member state has a Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels. The fifteen Permanent Representatives meet each week in the Permanent Representative Committee (COREPER). This Committee is divided into two parts, one composed of ambassadors and the other of their deputies. This Committee is tasked with preparing the Council’s work. Directorates General (DGs) The administrative apparatus of the European Commission consists of twenty-six directorates general covering areas of Community policy. The directorates general are structured hierarchically on a departmental basis similar to a national ministry. DGs act in response to initiatives coming either from the Commission, Council and/or Parliament. In principle, the DGs covering areas of interest to NGOs are: DGIA – External Relations Political Relations: Europe (including CEE) and the Newly Independent States, Common Foreign and Security Policy DGV – Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs DGVIII – Development (External Relations and Development Cooperation with Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific – Lomé Convention) DGX – Information, Communication, Culture and Audio-visual Media DGXI – Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection DGXII – Science, Research and Development DGXIII – Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research DGXXII – Education, Training and Youth DGXXIII – Enterprise Policy, Distributive Trades, Tourism and Cooperatives DGXXIV – Consumer Policy and Consumer Health Protection Europe Agreements Bilateral agreements providing for cooperation in political, economic, trade, cultural and other areas such as competition, state aids, and approximation of laws. These agreements form the legal basis for the EU’s relationships with the relevant countries. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia have all signed Europe Agreements. European Commission The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The European Commission fulfils three main functions:
Leading the Commission are 20 Commissioners, persons who have often either sat in national parliaments or the European Parliament, or who have held high office in their home countries. The EU heads of state or government, meeting in the European Council, choose the President of the Commission. The remaining Commissioners are nominated by the governments of the 15 EU member states in consultation with the new Commission President. The President and other Commissioners must be approved by the parliament.
European Economic Area (EEA) The European Economic Area was created in January 1994. It is currently comprised of all EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EEA agreement grants the three countries the freedoms of the single market (free movement of goods, services and people) and requires them to adopt most EU policies on mergers, state aids, consumer protection, labour markets and the environment. European Parliament (EP) The power of the European Parliament is divided into three categories:
The current Parliament (re-elected in June 1999) consists of 626 members from approximately 100 political parties, organised in eight political groups. Most of the work of the EP is conducted in its 20 committees covering all areas of the Union’s activities from agriculture to common security policy. ISPA The Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA) is a program of assistance for the CEE countries. ISPA will be effective from the year 2000 until each country’s date of accession. The assistance from this fund will be targeted at two areas: the environment (help to the candidate countries to meet with the investment requirements needed to conform to the Community legislation) and transport (to improve connections between CEE countries and trans-European networks). The annual budget for ISPA will be EUR 1 billion per year (2000-2006). Member States There are fifteen member states of the European Union. The EU member states are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. National (Phare) Program An annual program agreed bilaterally between the European Commission and each applicant country, which defines how the Phare funds for a specific country will be allocated. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/phare/)
National Program for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) The NPAA is the document adopted by each applicant country that sets out a timetable for achieving the priorities and intermediate objectives as defined in the Accession Partnership and, where possible and relevant, indicates the necessary staff and financial resources. Thus, the NPAA is the applicant country’s response to the Accession Partnership and outlines how it aims to adopt and apply the acquis. Newly Independent States (NIS) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Although technically not part of NIS, Mongolia is often grouped with these countries for the purposes of EU programs. Opinion The European Commission’s analyses of the situation in each applicant country and the candidate’s capacity to assume obligations of EU membership designed to assist the Council in its decision on opening negotiations. Published as part of the Agenda 2000 in July 1997. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/agenda2000/en) Phare The overall objective of the Phare program is to help the candidate countries prepare to join the European Union. Initially covering only Poland and Hungary, it has since been extended to Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. Croatia remains eligible even though its activities have been suspended. Following the publication of the European Commission’s Opinions (July 1997) on accession of the candidate EU member states, the Phare Program switched from being ‘demand driven’ to ‘accession driven’. From 1998 onwards, the Phare program is based on the Accession Partnerships, which indicate the areas of the ‘acquis communautaire’ (the set of EU legislation and regulations) where candidate EU member states need to make further progress in order to become full members of the EU. Phare provides both technical assistance and investment support to help candidate EU member states implement their own National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis. The five-year financial allocation for Phare for 1995-99 was EUR 6.7 billion. For the period 2000-2006, the annual budget of the Phare program for the CEE accession countries will be approximately EUR 1.5 billion per year. Regular Report from the Commission on Progress towards Accession (Regular Report) The Regular Reports, prepared by the European Commission for submission to the Council, describe the progress of each candidate country towards accession in light of the Copenhagen criteria, in particular the rate of adoption of the acquis. The report is based on numerous sources of information, including the candidate countries, reports and resolutions of the European Parliament, international organisations, and NGOs.(http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/enlarge/report/)
SAPARD The Special Accession Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (SAPARD) will help candidate countries deal with the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the area of common agricultural policy and structural development for the agricultural sector and rural areas. The annual budget for SAPARD will be approximately EUR 500 million per year. Funds will be available from 2000 until each country has joined the EU. Among the priorities for funding under this program are diversifying economic activities in rural areas, and improving vocational training. Structural Funds The structural funds are used to finance Community structural aid, mainly to the poorer regions, in order to strengthen the EU’s economic and social cohesion making a single market across the EU possible. Currently under reform, the new structural funds will cover three objectives: Objective 1: development of regions that are progressing at a slower pace and the development of regions with extremely low population density (regions in Finland and Sweden) (approximately 70 percent of funds);
Objective 3: development of human resources (approximately 12 percent). At present, these funds are only available to EU member states. Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg16/document/doc1_en.htm. Tacis The Tacis Program (soon to be renamed) is an initiative for the Newly Independent States and Mongolia, which promotes the development of economic and political links between the European Union and partner countries. Since it’s inception in 1991, it has launched more than 3,000 projects worth over EUR 3.3 billion. The current legal basis for Tacis expires on 31 December 1999. A new regulation has been proposed for the years 2000-2006. The new program will focus on the following objectives: democracy and the rule of law; the private sector and economic development; the social consequences of transition; regional and cross border cooperation; environmental protection; rural economy; and nuclear safety.
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